2016-2017 NC Hoops: Heel Turn

[tims4wins]

Oh man your first real experience - when that place is rocking there is no venue like it. I was at the Notre Dame game 2 years ago when they won by 30, the first half atmosphere was insane.

Grayson Allen isn't even really practicing right now, it sounds like they are just trying to stay afloat for a while until the freshmen get back. But honestly, if Allen was healthy, and none of those freshmen came back, I still think this team would be around top 5 in the country and a real threat to win it all. We'll see how it all plays out. So happy to have Jefferson back, and so happy for him that he is having as much success as he is.

 

[Greg29fan]

Izzo is 2-17 against Coach K and Roy (1-7, with the only loss when RW was still at KU). That's pitiful.

 

[DukeSox]

Oh man your first real experience - when that place is rocking there is no venue like it. I was at the Notre Dame game 2 years ago when they won by 30, the first half atmosphere was insane.

Grayson Allen isn't even really practicing right now, it sounds like they are just trying to stay afloat for a while until the freshmen get back. But honestly, if Allen was healthy, and none of those freshmen came back, I still think this team would be around top 5 in the country and a real threat to win it all. We'll see how it all plays out. So happy to have Jefferson back, and so happy for him that he is having as much success as he is.

They would be the 2010 team.

 

[tims4wins]

Huh? on the young comment? ND game wasn't my first, I was an undergrad 99-03. Just meant I was recently in the venue for a rocking experience

PS great comparison to 2010

 

[hawaiirsn]

Oh man your first real experience - when that place is rocking there is no venue like it. I was at the Notre Dame game 2 years ago when they won by 30, the first half atmosphere was insane.

Grayson Allen isn't even really practicing right now, it sounds like they are just trying to stay afloat for a while until the freshmen get back. But honestly, if Allen was healthy, and none of those freshmen came back, I still think this team would be around top 5 in the country and a real threat to win it all. We'll see how it all plays out. So happy to have Jefferson back, and so happy for him that he is having as much success as he is.

Yeah it was great. Hoping to get to at least a few ACC games, even if I can't get to them all. Cameron is fantastic Certainly beats Hawaii's Stan Sherrif Center...

(not to discount the phenomenal games I've seen there over the years, like Hawaii's taking down Paul Pierce led Kansas and the season opening knocking off of Michigan State years back)

And I'm sure Allen will look more like himself as the toe heals and he practices, but I was a bit surprised he was still launching up shots. I guess that's how you get through it and still end up with 24 points.

 

[DukeSox]

Huh? on the young comment? ND game wasn't my first, I was an undergrad 99-03. Just meant I was recently in the venue for a rocking experience

that word was not supposed to be in that post haha, sorry

 

[tims4wins]

no worries. what years were you there?

 

[DukeSox]

Greg, JSHAMS:

Do we want to talk about Tony Bradley or just keep this on the down low for a bit?

shh

Shh is a pretty good description of his impact last night. 15 min, 4 pts, 2 rbs.

 

[Greg29fan]

Freshman playing his first road game against a quality opponent. It happens.

And he was far from alone.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Oh man your first real experience - when that place is rocking there is no venue like it. I was at the Notre Dame game 2 years ago when they won by 30, the first half atmosphere was insane.

Yup, best game I've ever been to there.

 

[DukeSox]

I think Duke could field two top-25 teams.

 

[tims4wins]

They could.

I'm not sure they will lose another game this year.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Tatum has that flow to his game that is evident every time he touches it. It's interesting that he seems to look more nimble with the ball that without it, where he seems to be somewhat stiff when running. Could just be him continuing to get comfortable after the foot though.

Also, Kennard is Grayson without the whining, and he appears to have the kind of attitude the early 90s teams have with Laettner and Hurley where he just the right amount of asshole to be absolutely deadly when called upon. I know Allen has been hurt, but he just seems to be an emotional mess right now and getting frustrated at all kinds of crap. Might just be putting too much pressure on himself with all the preseason hype but needs to let his game flow more easily instead of pushing so hard.

 

[tims4wins]

Spot on. I had the exact same thought last night about Kennard. He is a left handed, slightly less athletic, more mentally tough version of Allen right now.

 

[DukeSox]

Kennard is getting Singlery

 

[DukeSox]

Oh my god Grayson is healthy again

This isn't even fair

 

[RedOctober3829]

And you get to add a top 5 pick in a week. This year is a Duke fan's wet dream.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

It really is. This season is shaping up to be special because of how many really good teams there appear to be. I mean Villanova, UCLA, Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, Baylor, Kansas, WVU, Kentucky, Florida Oregon, Gonzaga, Xavier and Creighton all seem to be exceptionally strong. And then the ACC is absolutely loaded with Carolina, Virginia, Louisville, ND, Miami, FSU and 'cuse. To have Duke be at its peak in a year with so much talent about is really exciting. I mean, it means the odds of them winning it all are less (and the talk about not losing another game is nonsense) but if they do pull it out it could be the best one yet.

Or best since my senior year ('91) that is - you never beat your first...

 

[DukeSox]

I would prefer all those teams to suck.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

Disagree - going through the best makes it that much better when you win. That's one of the reasons why 1991 was my favourite Duke championship (well, being there in person was another reason), why 2004 was the best Sox championship and why Superbowls XXXVI and XLIX were much greater than XXXVIII and XXXIX (I can't decide which is the best since I don't yet have the perspective of time on XLIX).

Interestingly both Duke and the NEP are now favourites to win their respective championships (each at 5/2) and the Red Sox are 2nd favourite (to the Cubs) to win the WS (at 7/1). That gives an implied 1.0% chance of hitting my dream trifecta in 2017! Closest I've come is 2004 when the Sox and Pats won and the Devils lost in the Final Four (blowing an 8 pt lead with 3min to play after Shelden Williams fouled out - they would have gotten to play a far-weaker GTECH squad in the final).

Next nearest was 2015 when NEP and Duke each won but the Sox, well, weren't too close...

 

[tims4wins]

2001 was fun too.

I was at the 2004 Final Four. Fuck.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

I count the Pats' 2001 season culminating in SB XXXVI as 2002 since that's when the championship took place (like 2017's coming trifecta)

 

[hawaiirsn]

Basketball had no bearing on my choice of grad program, but I gotta say this Duke team is demonstrably improving my quality of life year one. I came in with no strong opinions on duke bball, just like watching good basketball, but following this team has been really fun already.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

Jealous - I had the U Chicago Maroons as my grad school sports Mecca to follow. They had quite the football team in the 1920's but by the late 90's when I was there not so much.

 

[DukeSox]

LOL defense

 

[j-man]

Arkansas Razorbacks are 9-1 beat Tex in Hou today barring a under 500 in SEC play from what i saw today they are a 5-6 seed in march

 

[Greg29fan]

Out-everything'd by the other team's coach and a bunch of freshmen when it counted again. Means sweet fuck all having veteran players when that happens.

 

[DukeSox]

Should UNC get a new coach?

 

[tims4wins]

Like 5 years ago

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

Like 5 years ago

Minimum.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

Arkansas Razorbacks are 9-1 beat Tex in Hou today barring a under 500 in SEC play from what i saw today they are a 5-6 seed in march

Not saying it's impossible but beating Texas this year on a neutral court isn't exactly giant-killing. Respectable home wins against UTA and Houston are a decent sign and an away loss to Minn isn't the end of the world but again, they haven't exactly proved they are the reincarnation of '40 Minutes of Hell'.

A big test will be home v Florida on the 29th. Till then I think they're one of about 35 teams that have the potential to be a 7 - 11 seed but not much more.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

Hate both teams but man I wish I could have seen last night's UK - UNC game. BT Sports/ESPN which is my little window to US sports over here had some minor bowl game instead. Grrr.

 

[DukeSox]

Maybe Roy will get fired for throwing an object directly at one of his players

 

[Greg29fan]

Why would you guys want Roy fired? We might hire a guy who isn't in love with Coach K and lets him steamroll him with a smile on his face.

 

[j-man]

Not saying it's impossible but beating Texas this year on a neutral court isn't exactly giant-killing. Respectable home wins against UTA and Houston are a decent sign and an away loss to Minn isn't the end of the world but again, they haven't exactly proved they are the reincarnation of '40 Minutes of Hell'.

A big test will be home v Florida on the 29th. Till then I think they're one of about 35 teams that have the potential to be a 7 - 11 seed but not much more.

that fair and the coaching is not great but arkansas has 2 guys that can score 18 pis a game Arkansas will lose some easy SEC Games but 10 11 wins in the SEC plus at least 1 SEC Tourny win puts arkansas in a 6-7 seed with the right matchup in round 2 couild put the hogs in the sweet 16

 

[tims4wins]

WTF is happening right now

 

[IdiotKicker]

Luke Kennard is happening. Not much else, but Kennard is happening.

 

[tims4wins]

25-3 run

 

[DukeSox]

WTF is happening right now

October team

 

[tims4wins]

Still

 

[DukeSox]

The Grayson Allen experience really is a trip

 

[tims4wins]

So lesson learned from Monday...or not

 

[IdiotKicker]

So at what point does Grayson Allen become the most-hated Dukie by Duke fans? I'm starting to get there.

 

[tims4wins]

I don't hate him so much as wonder what is wrong with him. He seems like an emotional wreck and is way off his game.

 

[Average Reds]

So at what point does Grayson Allen become the most-hated Dukie by Duke fans? I'm starting to get there.

I'm wondering at what point does an opponent target Allen for an egregious (but well-deserved) cheap shot?

I find it hard to believe that he has not been taken out yet.

 

[Average Reds]

I don't hate him so much as wonder what is wrong with him. He seems like an emotional wreck and is way off his game.

What's wrong with him is that he's an entitled, pampered prick.

 

[tims4wins]

What's wrong with him is that he's an entitled, pampered prick.

Maybe. Seems deeper than that

 

[RedOctober3829]

Duke has indefinitely suspended Grayson Allen.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Right move from K. I'd keep him out three games through the BC game.

 

[Average Reds]

I am surprised and pleased. The correct move.